Mumbai Police detain Tushar Gandhi ahead of CJP protest at Jantar Mantar
Synopsis
On 10 October, Mumbai Police detained Tushar Gandhi — Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson — before he could reach August Kranti Maidan for a CJP solidarity rally. Simultaneously, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was picked up in Gurugram and CJP's own founders were stopped at IGI Airport. With 20,000-plus security personnel deployed and 45 Metro stations shut, Delhi braced for a protest that authorities were determined to prevent.
Key Takeaways
Tushar Gandhi , great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi , was detained by Mumbai Police on 10 October while heading to August Kranti Maidan .
Gamdevi Police Station confirmed no permission had been granted; a High Court order bars protests at August Kranti Maidan.
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained from his residence in Sector 56, Gurugram by Delhi Police.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke , Saurav Das , and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at IGI Airport , Delhi.
Over 20,000 police and CAPF personnel deployed in Delhi; entry gates at 45 Metro stations closed since Friday night.
The protest targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter list manipulation.
Mumbai Police on Saturday, 10 October detained Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and president of 'Hum Bharat Ke Log', while he was en route to August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. The detention came ahead of a solidarity protest he had announced in support of the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)'s demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
How the Detention Unfolded
Tushar Gandhi had on Friday shared a post on X — including a poster urging Mumbaikars to join him at August Kranti Maidan at 3:30 pm on Saturday — in solidarity with the CJP and the All India Students' Association (AISA) protest in Delhi. However, authorities moved swiftly before the gathering could take shape.
Zonal DCP Ragasudha R confirmed that the Gamdevi Police Station had not received any application for the proposed gathering and that no permission had been granted. 'August Kranti Maidan is not a protest site, and no one can protest there due to a High Court order. No application regarding this matter has been received by the Gamdevi Police Station,' a police official stated.
Notably, Tushar Gandhi had also been present on stage during the 2 October protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, indicating a pattern of sustained civic engagement ahead of the national demonstration.
Mass Security Clampdown Across Delhi
In parallel, security arrangements were tightened sharply across New Delhi ahead of the CJP–AISA protest at Jantar Mantar. More than 20,000 police personnel and members of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed across the national capital.
Entry and exit gates at 45 Delhi Metro stations remained closed since Friday night, and train services to two of Delhi's major railway stations were cancelled. Surveillance was intensified citywide amid concerns over a possible large-scale mobilisation, even as permission for the protest had not been granted.
Prominent Figures Detained Across Cities
The detentions were not confined to Mumbai. Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained by Delhi Police from his residence in Sector 56, Gurugram ahead of the Jantar Mantar protest. Separately, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport upon their arrival, according to police.
What the Protest Is About
The CJP and AISA had called on supporters to demonstrate against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulation of voter lists. Authorities reportedly denied permission for the Jantar Mantar gathering, citing public order concerns.
This comes amid heightened political sensitivity: with memories of the 20 July unrest and police action during protests over the NEET paper leak still fresh, the administration moved with visible urgency. Those earlier protests had preceded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
What Happens Next
With permission still ungranted and senior protest organisers detained at multiple points, the immediate future of the planned demonstration remains uncertain. Legal challenges to the detentions and the police's invocation of the High Court order on August Kranti Maidan are likely to be watched closely by civil liberties groups in the days ahead.
Point of View
A site historically tied to the Quit India Movement, carries an unmistakable symbolic weight that authorities may not have fully considered. The CJP's core allegation — voter list manipulation by the Chief Election Commissioner — is a serious institutional claim that deserves public scrutiny, not suppression. Whether the protest is lawful or not, the breadth of the crackdown risks amplifying the very message it seeks to contain.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Tushar Gandhi detained by Mumbai Police?
Tushar Gandhi was detained on 10 October while on his way to August Kranti Maidan for a solidarity protest supporting the CJP demonstration in Delhi. Police cited a High Court order barring protests at August Kranti Maidan and said no permission application had been received by the Gamdevi Police Station.
What is the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar about?
The Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and the All India Students' Association (AISA) called for a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulation of voter lists. Authorities had not granted permission for the gathering as of Saturday.
Who else was detained ahead of the CJP protest?
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained by Delhi Police from his Gurugram residence. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Delhi's IGI Airport upon arrival, according to police.
What security measures were put in place in Delhi?
More than 20,000 police and CAPF personnel were deployed across Delhi. Entry and exit gates at 45 Metro stations were closed since Friday night, and train services to two major Delhi railway stations were cancelled amid fears of large-scale mobilisation.
What is the historical context of the current protests?
Authorities are acting with heightened caution following the 20 July unrest linked to NEET paper leak protests, which had preceded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. That backdrop has prompted more assertive pre-emptive action from security agencies.
